Essex Society for Family History

RECENT TUTORIALS AT CHELMSFORD

DECEMBER 2009 - JEWISH ANCESTRY with Jeanette Rosenberg 

Welcome to Jeanette from JGSGB (The Jewish Genealogical Society of Great Britain) who gave us a good insight into Jewish ancestry.  I certainly did not realize there were so many sites available.  Jeanette demonstrated many sites via powerpoint which proved very helpful.

 A couple of the tips mentioned were:

 Their website can be found at :     www.jgsgb.org.uk/

 Her handout was very useful and she also gave her email address : jeanette.r.rosenberg@googlemail.com

 Many thanks, Jeanette for visiting us and giving so much helpful information.

Barbara Harpin

NOVEMBER 2009 -  LESSER KNOWN SOURCES FOR FAMILY HISTORY  -  Eric Probert

Again, Eric demonstrated the use of lesser used resources in our search for family ancestors, from the comfort of our home computers, libraries and the usual archives.

The use of magazines (Parish, Society, & Company) can reveal much useful information often missed.  Really need to seek out what might be available.

Checking the index of all sorts of books, can take you straight to the relevant page without scanning the whole book.   Fascinating information and pictures can be found in the most unexpected places. 

I think the most amazing was the entry for the treatment for constipation on Boxing Day in the Saffron Walden Chemist Dispensers Register in the nineteenth century.

Newspapers can be checked for background information, such as crimes, obituaries, sports events.

Professional Institutions (ie Electrical Engineers) can give valuation information on career moves.

Hospital Records (remember the 100 year rule) can reveal information giving a much more detailed picture of an ancestor.

Local Authorities in some cases hold archives on planning, careers, and social lives.

Once the largest employers the Post Office Archive holds masses of excellent records
Please bear in mind this archive will be moving out of London soon, so make the most of the convenience of the London site before it goes west.

Barbara Harpin

October 2009 - Excel on the Computer  -  Andrew Britter

Andrew arranged for members to bring their laptops for a “hands on” tutorial session, explaining and demonstrating on the main screen what a spreadsheet is, and how it works out calculations while we “practiced” in small groups.

 Using his own file of family members, he went on to show how it is possible to sort, filter and highlight items within records.  A quick look at the many uses a spreadsheet can have in our family history research.  Very helpful, thanks Andrew.

JULY 2009 - ESSEX FAMILY HISTORY SOURCES  - ERIC PROBERT

Eric gave a comprehensive list of facilities at our fingertips.

ERO
Poor Law, Wills & Admons, Land & Other Tax Returns, School Admissions, Directories, Quarter Sessions, Maps & Reference books
There is a searchable on line catalogue
Finding Aids such as Boyds, Baxters, Burial Indexes, Brownes Marriage Licences
Books, Magazines, journals
Reference books for Wills in Essex 1400 to 1858

ESFH Research Room
Exchange Journals,  Burials & Monumental Inscriptions Index
Surname Interests online
CD’s – Census Index’s, Poor Law, Parish Registers 

East of London FHS   (including Redbridge, Tower Hamlets & Barking)
Check their webpage & journal, and many publications & CD’s

Waltham Forest FHS (including Chingford, Walthamstow, Leyton & Leytonstone)
A small group, no website, quarterly magazine, lots of information

Local & Specialised History Societies
British Association for Local HistoryTransport
Recorder of Uttlesford History
Foxearth District
Great Eastern Railway Society

Libraries
Databases & sites such as Ancestry
Register of Electors
Local Newspapers

Museums www.museumsinessex.org

Genealogy Forums & Message Boards 

 Our thanks to Eric for highlighting the many sources available to us.

JUNE 2009 – THE HISTORY OF POLICE IN BRITAIN by FRED FEATHER

Fred, a well known member, past chairman, current editor of Essex HISTORIAN and holder of other posts, treated us to another information packed talk, this time on the British police force.   He retired as a serving officer many years ago, having served in several forces, and was the founding curator for the Essex Police Museum in Chelmsford 18 years ago.

He started at the beginning and took us through the years of change in the police system.  Referring little to notes, he is a mine of information.

Up until 1840 people guilty of crimes were flogged, hung or transported.  It was a costly business to keep people in gaol.  

Fred told us of the Met Police, River Police, through to the local town police and the regional forces we are used to now – many changes along the way.  From helmets, badges, colours, all uniforms can give lots of information.  All explained with pictures, caricatures and photos.

Book -  recommended - The British Police (Police Forces and Chief Officers 1829-2000) by Martin Stallion and David S. Wall published by the Police History Society  ISBN 0-9512538-4-0.

Much Essex information is stored at ERO under JP2/1 and JP2/2

If you have a serving officer as an ancestor, most forces have some archives, and you could be lucky in receiving lots of information.  Apply in general to the local Chief Constable.   Thank you, Fred for an enjoyable session.

Barbara Harpin

MAY 2009  - QUESTION & ANSWER SESSION  -  Panel of ESFH Experts

Previously members had been asked to submit questions, but those present were also welcome to quiz the panel.  Some questions were answered on the following subjects: 
Breweries, with suggested places to search - ERO catalogue, brewery history societies, books & Thurrock Museum. 
Children’s Homes - a Grandmother living in a children’s home in 1882.  As this was after the 1881 census,Kelly’s directories were suggested, and use of search engine.
Roll of Honour - check first whether ESFH have transcribed the relevant location.  Nadfas Group have been recording Church memorials and village/town roll of honour.  Check other local history societies, and Library databases.
Sharing Trees / Information  - To transfer info around the world, export as gedcom files or use winzip to compress files, or PDF files.  Members were reminded not to include information on living people.
Probate calendars   A question why gross and net figures can vary so much.  This is usually due to debts to the Estate.  Debts were often kept high to reduce death duty.
CD’s  A member present enquired whether there would be any more MI cd’s soon as these have proved helpful.  Paul replied that NE Essex II would be ready soon followed by SE Essex.  The MI Index in the Research Room had this morning been modified to list availability of fiche or cd.
The session gave members chance to ask their own questions, with answers and suggestions given publically which could be relevant to others.  A useful session, thank you,

Barbara Harpin

APRIL 2009 - FAMILY HISTORY SOURCES AT THE BRITISH LIBRARY- BRITISH INDIA COLLECTION by PETER BAILEY

 Members were today given a briefing on how the British occupied India for many years and a comprehensive listing of the numerous types of information held at the British Library. 

With the usual documents of identity, it is quick and easy to obtain a readers ticket allowing access to the large Asian & African Studied Reading Room on the third floor.  With information from Court minutes, letters, report, bonds & covenants, church records monumental inscriptions, pensions, wills and inventories there is plenty to investigate. Records vary according to rank and district.  It was not just soldiers who travelled and lived in India, some of their families joined them, and many tradesmen were needed to support the vast numbers moving between England and India.

www.fibis.org can give more information.   Many thanks for the information packed talk. 

Barbara Harpin

MARCH 2009 - Major Graham Kinsley -  Salvation Army – Family Tracing Service

Graham explained his life of service to others via the Salvation Army whose promise is to help our equals in need by way of love, clothing, food and shelter, worldwide, reaching out in 110 countries.  Their policy is reunion, reconciliation, renewal, hope for the family.

William Booth was aware of the great need in the 1890’s in the poor inhabitants of London, particularly the east end.  In 1885 Mrs Booth’s Enquiry Bureau was started to help those families with missing members.  It was then more formally the Investigation Department of the Salvation Army, until becoming in 1990 the Family Tracing Service   Graham joined this service about 7 years ago.

Their aim is to assist family members trace known adult relatives who have been missing for a few or many months to reunite them.   Vulnerable people and children are dealt with by the police.

Graham gave us some figures.  In 2008 they found 2,219 people which affects more than double that number, as there are often more family members involved.  They were unsuccessful in 295 cases, so successful in 90.95% of cases in the UK, slightly higher than the worldwide 88.27%.  10-12 people are re-united daily.

They are a trusted and confidential service for the support of families which is not available for straight family history research.  Contact by email: family.tracing@salvationarmy.org.uk or Tel 0845 634 4747

Barbara Harpin

FEBRUARY 2009  -  Migration – What to do if you get stuck -Laurie Page

Various studies have been undertaken on migration, but despite popular belief, the average ancestor only moved a short distance.  Generally, those who moved were single adults.  Before mid 18^th century, movement was by foot or cart, the late 18^th century brought the railways, but despite this, people tended to move within the same region.

Laurie gave various statistics and went on to give six interesting examples of how to find the missing person.  The various sources to explore are: 

Various Trades lists and directories can also give much detail

Laurie certainly gave us lots to think about and avenues to investigate when we come to a dead end.

Barbara Harpin

December 2008 - From Scribble to Script by Meryl Catty and Audrey Gillett

Nice to see Meryl (a founder member of the Society) and Audrey back with us for another dialogue on the “do’s and don’ts” of Family History.  They took us back to the starting point and brought home the basic rules of research which we should all be following.  Good guidance for the novice, a reminder for the more experienced.

 Thank you to two long standing and experienced researchers

Barbara Harpin. 

NOVEMBER  2008  -  Stephen Dixon –  Essex Archive Service Manager

 Stephen took up his post with the ERO in June this year, previously working as Borough Archivist at Medway Archives & Local Studies Centre.

 Stephen said the annual closure just completed had been necessary and thanked everyone for their patience during this time.  Lessons had been learnt.

 He would very much like to organize volunteers in the Reading Room to assist the increasing number of visitors starting and continuing their search for details of their research.  The room has been running at approx 75% occupancy.    There are ongoing negotiations concerning the ESFH Research Room moving upstairs. 

In the meantime, it is hoped for more signage to ESFH Research Room and the staff upstairs to direct people to the downstairs facilities that are very under-used.

Documents are evidence and “tell the truth” as opposed to other people’s stories.

Among his plans are:

Stephen was questioned about those Parish Records not deposited with ERO as per the Measures Act, but kept within parishes, some inappropriately kept.He replied that he is working to negotiate a solution to this problem and is hoping to start a scheme whereby all entries more than 100 years old are passed on to ERO for storing and preserving in the required conditions.  And all of the 600 Essex parishes be visited on a 5 yearly basis. 

 In reply to a questioned about identity theft / data protection, documents are freely available to the public and there needs to be a resolution to this growing problem. 

Barbara Harpin

OCTOBER  2008 - A Place in the Sun – Brenda Griffith-Williams

Brenda was project manager for the online indexing of the Sun Fire Insurance policies at the Guildhall Library, a project not yet complete due to financial constraints, but is continuing on a volunteer basis.

 The index covers 193,000 individual insurance policies, the Guildhall Library holding about 1200 policy registers.  Most entries are for policyholders in London who were not necessarily rich people, but artisans or small traders. The index gives basic information as to policy holder, address, trade, etc.  The actual policies list various details of buildings, possessions, tools of trade, the amount insured and the amount paid for the policy.

 Not only did Brenda explain the criteria for entering the details, but she gave us a full demonstration and also a handout so that we had no excuse for trying it ourselves at home.  We viewed records of Crotchrode Whiffing, and Brenda checked several member’s family names.

 The database is easy to use, and if able to find an entry of interest, it is well worth a visit to the Guildhall Library to view the original.  This can be very informative on the neighbourhood and could also lead us to further areas for investigating our family history.  If unable to visit, it is possible to order a photocopy.

 To use the Index : Go to www.nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Under ‘Search the archives’, click on ‘Access to Archives’ (A2A), then
Click on ‘Advanced search’.
In the ‘All these words’ field, enter ‘insured’.
In the ‘This exact wording or phrase’ field, enter your search term (the name, or address, or occupation you are searching for).
From the dropdown ‘Region’ menu, select ‘London Region’.
In the ‘Date range’ field, enter,e.g., (from) 1800 (to) 1840.
(N.B. Start date will need to be adjusted as index grows)
This is very much an ongoing project, so it is worth revisiting to check for updates.

Thanks to Brenda for a very informative tutorial.

Barbara Harpin

JUNE 2008 - Dating Photographs – Ann Wise

Ann explained how to date photographs from the period 1850 to 1925 by looking at the clothes, props and backs of the photo.  Small photo’s in the form of Carte de visites were a big craze during the reign of Queen Victoria.  A few years later, larger Cabinet photo’s, 4in by 5½in, or mounted 4½ by 6½ became fashionable.  Due to changes in dress, props used and information printed on the reverse of the photos, we were taught the differences through the decades to the early 20^th century. 1860  full figure view, wide crinoline skirts. 1866  three quarters or head and shoulder views.1872 flat fronted skirts fashionable.  1885   men wore dark suits, rocking horses became popular as a prop for children. 1890  women have full sleeves.  Reverse of photo’s were more decorative. 1912   outdoor pictures became more popular

 Ann reminded us that we should not only enter a date on our current family photos, but also name the people therein. 

Barbara Harpin
© Copyright Essex Society for Family History

APRIL 2008 -  Family History Resources at the Museum of Docklands by Claire Frankland, Museum Archivist.

Claire explained that the Docklands Museum holds the archive of the tidal River Thames and the enclosed Docks, records of the West Thames being held at the Berkshire Records Office.  These records were accessible with a properly organised research service.

The records chart the development and activity of the London docks, port and river from 1770 onwards, including trading, industrial relations, river management and docklands regeneration.  The archive features over 40,000 photographs of the port.  The Library holds 10,000 books on London, shipping and port history.

Also at the Museum is the Sainsbury Study Centre, where documents relating to the history of one of the nation’s oldest food retails is held.

Meryl Rawlings
© Copyright Essex Society for Family History

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